I recently posted about my plight about leaving the nursing home and going to work at an extended care hospital.
The idea was that I would get hospital experience (which I've never had) but I've been told by some that LTAC will not be hospital experience even if they call themselves a hospital (???)
The nursing home has been trying to get me to stay, and I was recently told the ADON wanted to cut her hours and they would like to put me in her position when she is not there (a couple of days a week.) I went in today and she showed me some of the ropes and all, but I still don't feel very useful, though I don't know if that would improve as I learned more about what she does. I don't want to just be there shuffling papers so I can have a job. I still am not quite sure about what the future would hold for me at the nursing home. I'm planning to start a FNP program soon and the DON (who is planning to go through the same program) keeps telling me I have a much better opportunity there and they will work with me while I'm in school which is something "that hospital" won't do (but how do they know?)
Anyway, it has come down to the wire. I am supposed to start orientation at the hospital Monday, but if I'm going to stay at the nursing home...anyway, I need to make a decision soon. I understand I won't need hospital experience to become a FNP (I'm thinking I would like to start out with primary care, maybe stay doing that for my whole career).
I need your help. The anxiety is eating my brain.
Nursing home pros:
It's a familiar environment
I like the people I work with, I love the patients
They (right now) are willing to be flexible with my schedule
slow pace (much of the time)
NH cons:
four 8 hr shifts a week (instead of 3 12's like at the hospital)
working the floor is boring
afraid I'll be a pencil pusher
pace is too slow (much of the time)
LTAC hospital: I don't know what the sam hill to expect...